NSN Webinar Series: The Scientific Magic of Total Solar Eclipses
- Adult, Teen
- 04/05/2023
Dr. Shadia Habbal joined NSN on Thursday, April 27, 2023 to learn about the scientific discoveries made from careful observations of total solar eclipses around the world.
The Scientific Magic of Total Solar Eclipses
Throughout the millennia, total solar eclipses have instilled fear in some people while inspiring others, as the Sun’s wispy corona reveals itself in fleeting moments lasting anywhere from seconds to under 7 minutes. The recognition that the Sun’s corona is the extension of the solar atmosphere into space, together with deep rooted magnetic fields which pop up in strange ways from the solar surface, is less than a century old. With this discovery, our nearest star has paved the way for understanding some fundamental processes in nature that shape not only our immediate environment but the Universe itself. The consequences of such an expansion can be awe-inspiring yet fearful in some rare cases. In this talk, I will lead the audience through some of the recent scientific discoveries and adventures across cultures of the Solar Wind Sherpas.
About Shadia Habbal
Shadia Habbal’s interest in total solar eclipse observations was triggered by the advent of the first digital cameras which could be carried into the field. Her goal was to probe the temperature of the expanding corona. Since her first expedition in 1995, she has led 18 others across remote areas of the globe with her group, the Solar Wind Sherpas. These unique observations have unraveled some of the secrets of the corona and the expansion of the solar wind.
Recording
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LXUtMoN6ys
Further Information
The Solar Wind Sherpas
https://project.ifa.hawaii.edu/solarwindsherpas/
Eclipse Chaser: Science in the Moon's Shadow, By Ilima Loomis, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, HMHBooks.com, 2019
https://www.sbfprize.org/eclipse-chaser
Information about past and upcoming webinars, as well as links to recordings, can be found on our webinar feature page, posted below the current speaker information:
Webinar Series: https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/news-display.cfm?News_ID=707
The Scientific Magic of Total Solar Eclipses
Throughout the millennia, total solar eclipses have instilled fear in some people while inspiring others, as the Sun’s wispy corona reveals itself in fleeting moments lasting anywhere from seconds to under 7 minutes. The recognition that the Sun’s corona is the extension of the solar atmosphere into space, together with deep rooted magnetic fields which pop up in strange ways from the solar surface, is less than a century old. With this discovery, our nearest star has paved the way for understanding some fundamental processes in nature that shape not only our immediate environment but the Universe itself. The consequences of such an expansion can be awe-inspiring yet fearful in some rare cases. In this talk, I will lead the audience through some of the recent scientific discoveries and adventures across cultures of the Solar Wind Sherpas.
About Shadia Habbal
Shadia Habbal’s interest in total solar eclipse observations was triggered by the advent of the first digital cameras which could be carried into the field. Her goal was to probe the temperature of the expanding corona. Since her first expedition in 1995, she has led 18 others across remote areas of the globe with her group, the Solar Wind Sherpas. These unique observations have unraveled some of the secrets of the corona and the expansion of the solar wind.
Recording
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LXUtMoN6ys
Further Information
The Solar Wind Sherpas
https://project.ifa.hawaii.edu/solarwindsherpas/
Eclipse Chaser: Science in the Moon's Shadow, By Ilima Loomis, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, HMHBooks.com, 2019
https://www.sbfprize.org/eclipse-chaser
Information about past and upcoming webinars, as well as links to recordings, can be found on our webinar feature page, posted below the current speaker information:
Webinar Series: https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/news-display.cfm?News_ID=707
Last Updated: May 1, 2023